2016 Weather Year-in-Review - Climate Highlights

EXCEPTIONALLY WARM AND WET IN 2016

Eric Schminke - General Meteorologist

Torrential rain-producing thunderstorms paid many visits to Kansas in 2016 that resulted in major flooding and flash flooding across Central, South-Central, and Southeast Kansas. The flooding and flash flooding was so serious that several rescues were required. One event proved deadly when a vehicle was swept off a road in extreme Southwest Butler County.

On many occasions, the torrential rains proved historic. In Central Kansas, Salina set a daily rainfall record on May 26th by measuring 1.85 inches. This broke the record of 1.54 inches measured in 1990.

The July 4th Weekend started with a 'Bang' as numerous thunderstorms that put on a 'fireworks show' of their own swamped the Wichita Metro Area with 5 to 9 inches of rain. The 5.72 inches measured on the 2nd at Eisenhower National

Airport inundated the record of 2.04 inches that had been set in 1989. This was also the 6th greatest calendar day rainfall in Wichita's 128-year climate record. Add in the 1.42 inches measured on the 3rd and you have a 24-hour total bridging the 2nd and 3rd of 7.10 inches. This alone is greater than the 10th wettest July on record when the Air Capital measured 7.08 inches in 1929. After the 3rd, 2.02 inches were measured at Eisenhower Airport which brought Wichita's final July total to 9.67 inches. This would make 2016 Wichita's 2nd wettest July on record.

...AUGUST ALSO "RAINED" SUPREME...

South-Central Kansas was also inundated with torrential rains in August but this time, the wealth was shared with Southeast Kansas.

From the 5th to the 8th, a stationary front set up camp in an east/west manner across Southern Kansas. The front shifted very slowly into Northern Oklahoma. Ultra-high octane moisture pooled along the front and coupled with weak westerly flow in the upper atmosphere, the stage was set for prolonged very heavy rains.

During this 4-day period, 6.80 inches were measured at Wichita Eisenhower National. Calendar day record rainfalls drenched the Air Capital on the 6th and 7th. The 2.17 inches measured on the 6th broke the record of 1.45 inches that were measured 95 years ago in 1921. On the 7th, the faucet was turned up even further when 2.67 inches soaked Eisenhower Airport. This edged out the record of 2.62 inches measured all the way back in 1888, when Wichita's climate
record began on July 1st of that year. Up to and including the 9th, Wichita had measured 6.82 inches which had already guaranteed 2016 a top 10 finish on the "Wettest Augusts" list, tying it with 2003 for 10th place.

On the 19th, more torrential rains arrived. Much of Extreme South-Central Kansas was deluged by 5 to 8 inches, more specifically Southeast Sedgwick, Northern Sumner, Northern Cowley and Southwest Butler Counties. Hardest hit was Rose Hill which was overwhelmed by a staggering 9 inches in only a few hours!

Although Wichita was spared, the 1.13 inches, which no doubt was a sprinkle compared to the aforementioned areas, brought the August total to 8.24 inches, which guaranteed a 4th place ranking on the "Ten Wettest Augusts" list. Geez, ifthe historic rainfall that occurred just 15 to 20 miles to the northwest, then 2016 would have easily set the all-time August rainfall record.

Wichita measured 20.78 inches of rain this past summer, making 2016 their 3rd wettest on record.

...A SOGGY START TO SEPTEMBER...

The remnants of a hurricane can have profound effects on Kansas weather. On September 8th and 9th, the remnants of Hurricane Newton spread ultra-high octane moisture northeast from Western Mexico that would interact with a few subtle upper-level perturbations to produce a prolonged period of very heavy rains. During the 2-day period, an incredible 8.85 inches inundated Eisenhower Airport. Of this total, 5.39 drenched the area on the 9th to set a calendar day record which swamped the previous mark of 2.99 inches measured way back in 1930. The 2-day deluge accounted for 78 percent of the total September rainfall of 11.30 inches. This made 2016 Wichita's 2nd wettest September on record.

The following are Wichita's 5 wettest Septembers:

During the 3-month period from July to September, Wichita measured a staggering 29.25 inches of rain and with each month achieving a "Top 5" ranking, 2016 became Wichita's 2nd wettest year on record.

The following are Wichita's 5 wettest years:

For Salina and Chanute, 2016 wasn't nearly as historic as Wichita's in the "Water Department".

...WICHITA EXPERIENCES 2ND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD...

It was an exceptionally warm year as 2016 was Wichita's 2nd warmest on record.      

The greatest contributors were in late winter and in autumn when 5 months joined their respective "Ten Warmest On Record " fraternities.

...SALINA RECORDS WARMEST YEAR SINCE 1948...

Salina also felt the heat as 2016 was among their 10 warmest on record, and their warmest since 1948.

Four months joined the "Top 10 Rankings". The most noteworthy was November, which was Salina's warmest on record.

...CHANUTE EXPERIENCES 9TH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD...

Chanute also felt the heat as 2016 was among their 10 warmest on record, and their warmest since 2012.